Scarlet Sunrise: Where does Ohio State's defense rank in ESPN's 'Future Power Rankings'?
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Where does Ohio State’s defense rank in ESPN’s ‘Future Power Rankings’?
After examining where ESPN ranks Ohio State’s offense in its “Future Power Rankings” series — during which the outlet projects the success of college football’s top teams at specific positions and in particular phases of the game over the next three seasons — Lettermen Row wound back the clock and took a look at where ESPN ranks Ohio State’s fast-rising defense in that same series.
Ohio State clocked in at No. 5, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, who had the Buckeyes ranked No. 21 in last year’s defensive FPR.
“After dropping 10 spots in the 2023 power rankings, Ohio State is reestablishing itself as one of the nation’s top defenses under veteran playcaller Jim Knowles. The Silver Bullets’ best days could be ahead after retaining several of their draft-eligible players from 2023 and adding a massive transfer in safety Caleb Downs, a true freshman All-America selection at Alabama who led the Tide with 107 tackles.”
Adam Rittenberg, ESPN
It wasn’t long ago that Ohio State lacked depth, and talent, in its secondary. Now the Buckeyes are coming off a season where they ranked first nationally in passing yards allowed per game, not to mention that their second-team cornerbacks could easily start at most Power Four schools. Rittenberg’s newfound faith in the Ohio State defense starts with the renovations in the back end made by secondary and cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, who was also a huge player in the recruitment of Downs.
Downs headlines a safety room that additionally features fifth-year senior Lathan Ransom. Together, they could form one of the best safety duos in the country. While sophomore Malik Hartford enjoyed an auspicious start to his Buckeyes career, the depth beyond that trio at the safety position is a bit of concern. But, really, Rittenberg’s biggest concern lies in the second level, where Ohio State is deep but unproven.
Knowles and his staff moved Sonny Styles from safety to linebacker. He and C.J. Hicks, another former top-15 overall prospect from the 2022 class, are both in line to play significant snaps at the WILL and are both dripping with potential. Except, Styles’ starting experience came at safety last season, and Hicks hasn’t even reached the century mark in career defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. That said, Ohio State should be set at the MIKE linebacker spot this season with Cody Simon stepping in for fifth-round NFL Draft pick and two-time captain Tommy Eichenberg.
Ohio State’s defensive line could be dominant in 2024 with the foursome of J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton.
Rittenberg’s right when he writes, “When top-five national recruits Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau arrived in 2021, no one expected them to still be on campus. But both gifted defensive ends elected to make a final national title push … .”
What’s encouraging for Buckeyes fans is that the likes of defensive ends Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry as well as defensive tackle Hero Kanu — all from the 2023 class — returned despite the swarm of veterans back in the fold for this season. Assuming longtime D-Line coach Larry Johnson sticks around and continues to retain and recruit high-end players such as true freshman defensive end Eddrick Houston, Ohio State should be more than fine on the defensive front.
Here’s Rittenberg’s Top 10 for defensive FPR (2024-26):
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Clemson
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Notre Dame
- Texas
- Penn State
- Utah
Get Rittenberg’s complete rankings here.
Ohio State set for late-season date with Northwestern at Wrigley Field
It’s official: Ohio State is headed to the Windy City to play Northwestern at Wrigley Field — home of the MLB’s storied Chicago Cubs — on Nov. 16.
Northwestern released its home sites for the 2024 season Wednesday, and the Wildcats will play five of their home games at the Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility on the university’s Evanston campus and two of their home games at Wrigley.
Keep in mind, because Northwestern is building a new Ryan Field, the team will have to play its home games for the 2024 and 2025 seasons at different locations, both on and away from campus.
Wrigley, approximately 8.8 miles away from Northwestern’s now-demolished Ryan Field, has a capacity of 41,649 for baseball games and has held three college football games since 1938, all of which have included Northwestern.
For more details, go here.
Ryan Day doesn’t want this year’s QB competition to carry into regular season
Ryan Day isn’t going to put a date on when he’ll announce this season’s starting quarterback. But he did reveal a deadline of sorts Wednesday on 97.1 The Fan.
“I think the way that things turned out last year, it kind of went into the first couple games of the season. That’s not ideal. I wouldn’t like to do that again this year,” Day said on The Fan’s Bishop and Friends.
“But it’s going to come down to playing the best players. And I say that all the time. We don’t have time to not play the best players. So they’ll be in competitive situations, and may the best man win.”
Ohio State has five scholarship quarterbacks on its roster, including Kansas State transfer Will Howard, a grad student, and Alabama transfer Julian Sayin, a true freshman. Plus, Devin Brown is once again competing for QB1 after a short-lived and injury-riddled start in the Cotton Bowl.
For the full story on Day’s latest quarterback comments, go here.
Counting Down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 107 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 198 days
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